Lee Anna Simmons

About me

The therapy that I offer is tailored to suit the individual or group that I am working with, often using my specialisms, which are art therapy and EMDR psychotherapy. I provide trauma therapy in relaxed and safe environments, frequently using EMDR to address PTSD symptoms, blocks, phobias, past trauma and attachment based issues.

Who do I help?

adults who wish to overcome feelings and problems associated with past experiences and trauma

people with phobias

people who hoard

children and adolescents who may be experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties – perhaps as a result of a traumatic event or neglect

professionals who wish to unlock their potential by expressing themselves more freely and expanding on their self-awareness

My approach is to work in partnership with my clients, to devise a programme and to work through difficulties as a shared endeavour. I offer sessions in South East and Central London but also work in other areas. The first session is to explore whether the approach fits and how best to proceed.

In sessions I include psychoeducation, sharing information about the methods I am using in the therapy, and offering practical information that can be helpful, working transparently and with respect every step of the way.

The connection between mind and body in mental health has led me to include mindfulness exercises in some therapeutic work and occasionally take clients rock climbing, experience in yoga and martial arts also inform some of the work eg. breathing techniques from tai chi chuan.

Adults, children and adolescents attend therapy with me and I also provide supervision for social workers and therapists individually and in small groups.

I am approved by BAAT (The British Association of Art Therapists) as a therapist and supervisor, by the ICO in data protection and EMDR UK & Ireland and EMDR Europe as an EMDR practitioner. I have confidentiality agreements with all clients and colleagues.

Training, qualifications & experience

Registered with the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council), I am an accredited EMDR practitioner (for adults), with specialist Child and Adolescent training (full), attend regular EMDR psychotherapy supervision and am a member of EMDR UK & Ireland. I hold an MA in Art Psychotherapy from Goldsmiths University, London and am registered with the British Association of Art Therapists including on their list of recommended practitioners and supervisors.

My clinical training and experience includes work with adults, children and adolescents: people suffering from attachments issues, trauma, addiction, self harm, victims of domestic abuse, people who hoard, the elderly and people suffering from mental health difficulties – both in the community and in health care establishments.

My employment includes charities, schools and a local authority in Greater London, where I worked across a range of organisations. My private practice is open to individuals, groups and organisations, through this (SA&T) I have provided therapy in schools in the UK and beyond including primary, secondary, rehabilitation, pupil referral and alternative provision, worked in a refugee camp and and addiction centre in Lebanon, provided supervision and training for volunteers, therapists and social workers in the UK and provided expert witness services. I frequently provide therapy for Victim Support and support workers in refugee organisations.

Basic climbing instruction trainings have allowed me to help children and adolescents build their confidence and concentration skills by using indoor climbing walls (there is one next to the studio in Woolwich). Here they can let off steam and learn to manage anxiety alongside more traditional Art Psychotherapy and EMDR. The therapy space in Woolwich is also a functioning art studio.

Photos & videos

Fees

EMDR sessions can be up to 90 minutes. I have a proportion of discounted spaces available.

Project work, trainings, reports and off site therapeutic work is costed on a case by case basis.

Further information

Testimonials:

Sophie Fegan (2019) Head Mistress, La Sainte Union Secondary School, London, UK We are a secondary school in inner London. We contracted Lee to cover a maternity in our mental health team. Lee provided short term counselling for teenage girls who were facing a number of personal issues. The young people referred to Lee always engaged very well.Lee also sat on multi-agency team meetings and all members of our inclusion team benefited from Lee’s expertise.I would highly recommend Lee to any school that was looking to offer a range of mental health support for young people.

Sarah Temple-Smith (2019) Manager, My View, London, The British Refugee Council​Lee provided group supervision for the My View Children’s Therapy Project. ​We work with young refugees and asylum seekers who have come to the UK on their own, having experienced and/or witnessed traumatic events including torture, detention and sexual violence.This kind of work demands a lot from the therapist, both clinically and in terms of their personal resilience and the group members highly appreciated Lee’s therapeutic input into supporting their practice as well as in helping promote their self-care.The whole team benefited from Lee’s flexible and creative approach and learned a lot from her experience and knowledge of working therapeutically with the refugee client group.

David Giles (2019) Mountain Leader, ​Research Fellow, Health and Social Care Research Centre, University of Derby, UKI was fortunate enough to spend a day visiting and observing Lee Simmons in November 2018 at the Reach Climbing Centre. During this time we discussed Lee’s therapy work and how climbing is becoming integrated into this. We spent the afternoon with one of her clients climbing, during which time I was able to see how Lee is able to combine climbing and her therapy work. Not only did her client have a thoroughly enjoyable session, but it was also clear to see how the climbing was also benefiting them.

Art & EMDR therapy followed by indoor climbing, client's mother (2019) SA&T studio, LondonIt’s amazing the change in my son since coming here, he was suffering from crippling depression and anxiety that he couldn't see a way out of, he’s now a teenager who sees a whole new world and life in front of him and is going out there to grab it. A huge turn around that I’m extremely grateful for because I don’t think he’d be here now without Lee and her therapy.

Barbara Chabior (2015) Social Worker, Community Social Work Team, Sutton, UKLee is a deeply intuitive artist and a therapist, working with rigour and authenticity in both fields and defying typical boxing in stereotypes of what the roles can be and are, whilst respecting and using knowledge and traditions in both fields of practice. She embodies unique awareness of the domains conflicting in an industrial sense but being complimentary and naturally in synch when it comes to the reality of thinking about and doing the work.

Gail Dee (2015) Principal Psychologist, Clinical Health Team, London Borough of Sutton, UK​I was fortunate enough to meet and work with Lee Simmons, Art Psychotherapist, when she worked in a community team in the London Borough of Sutton. ​During this time she set up a number of fantastic mental health community initiatives and also offered individual Art Psychotherapy work to mainstream clients who were identified as being at risk of developing more severe mental health difficulties. She had a special interest in using EMDR techniques and made many significant changes during her time here. It was refreshing to work with someone who is so creative and passionate about her work.